Our Services
Our Sport Health and Assessment Centre, of the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, provides all aspects of physiological testing, data collection and data interpretation for individuals, athletes and coaches. Our testing ranges from field-based methods to gold standard laboratory-based methods. Post-testing, our experts provide simple and effective data analysis for athletes, coaches, and other members of the performance services team in order to provide appropriate training prescriptions.
Metabolic
Our metabolic testing services provides information regarding your body’s metabolism at rest or your body’s current fitness level. Through metabolic tests we are able to give you a better understanding of your body.
Maximal Oxygen Consumption, VO2max and body composition - $135
This is the single best test for measuring aerobic fitness. With the metabolic system, we are able to measure the body’s ability to use oxygen at an efficient rate during muscular work. The maximal oxygen consumption value (VO2max) is a measure of the maximal rate at which oxygen can be taken in, transported and used to perform muscular work. It can be performed on a variety of modalities including:
- Treadmill
- Bike
- Hand Bike
- Rower
Information you will receive from this test includes:
- VO2max values, both absolute and relative
- Heart Rate Max
- Anaerobic and Aerobic Threshold determination
- Heart Rate training zones
Testing takes approximately 1 hour.
Lactate Threshold Test - $135
Finger tip blood lactates that help determine lactate threshold which is a measure of Anaerobic threshold.
- Treadmill
- Bike
- Hand bike
- Rower
Information you will receive from this test includes:
- Lactate threshold determination
Testing takes approximately 1 hour.
Can be combined with a VO2max test for $200.
Resting Metabolic Rate Determination - $135
At rest, laying still and comfortably for 30-60 minutes, we can measure your exchange of gases to determine the number of calories your body burns while at rest. This resting metabolic rate caloric number can be used to give insight on the number of calories needed to achieve weight loss goals or ensure your athlete is consuming enough calories for training.
For the best results this test should be completed first thing in the morning after an overnight fast.
Information you will receive from this test includes:
- Amount of calories at rest that you would expend in a day.
- Estimation of how at rest you were for the measurement for accuracy.
Testing takes approximately 1 hour.
Body Composition Testing
Body Composition testing allows for an understanding of your body’s Fat and Lean body mass. This service allows for you to establish a baseline and track changes during, and following lifestyle, fitness, or training programs.
SHAC offers two Body Composition Services:
Skin Folds - $40
Currently the most widely used method of determining body composition, skin folds is an indirect measure that provides information regarding subcutaneous (fat lying under skin) adipose tissue. 6 sites are measured between upper and lower body to provide an estimate of body fat within 7-10%
What to bring: shorts and a t-shirt.
Underwater (Hydrostatic) Weighing - $75
One of the most valid and reliable indirect methods for determining body composition, hydrostatic weighing measures total body mass underwater. From that (And Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy) we are able to determine body density and estimate a fat percentage with 2-4% accuracy.
NOTE: in order to complete this test, you will be completely submerged in water.
What to bring: swimwear and a towel.
Muscular Strength, Power + Endurance
We offer a variety of muscular strength, endurance, power, and flexibility testing. Specific testing may be recommended depending on your current health or injury, occupation, or sport activity.
Cybex Testing - $95 / Joint
Have you suffered an injury/or are curious of possible muscle imbalances from training?
The Cybex is an isokinetic dynamometer that is able to assess strength, endurance and power of muscle groups. With the speed of limb movement at a constant and predetermined speed, we are able to determine muscle imbalances for muscle groups, around any joint. If you have had an injury, we can relay information to a treating professional regarding readiness to return to play, or make changes to workout regimes in order to prevent injuries from muscle imbalances.
What to bring: shorts and a t-shirt.
General Musculoskeletal Testing - $70
Currently the most widely used method of determining body composition, skin folds is an indirect measure that provides information regarding subcutaneous (fat lying under skin) adipose tissue. 6 sites are measured between upper and lower body to provide an estimate of body fat within 7-10%
What to bring: shorts and a t-shirt.
Force Plate Jumps, Force-velocity Profile and Lower Body Strength Assessment - $200
A series of body-weight and loaded jumps to develop a more accurate lower body strength/power profile to direct the training of athletes. Testing takes approximately 60-90 minutes.
What to bring: Comfortable workout wear including runners and water bottle.
Force Plate Countermovement Jumps
Measures bilateral peak force, relative power, L/R deficit and displacement. Force profiles variables can be manipulated through the use of different training methods. Recommendations to improve the profile as it relates to sport performance and injury will be recommended.
Force-Velocity Profile
Uses jump height with a variety of loads to create a force-velocity profile, a theoretical optimal profile and provide training recommendations.
Anaerobic Power and Capacity
Wingate - $50
The wingate is an all-out intensity on a computerized cycle to test anaerobic power. We are able to determine peak power generation and the capacity to resist fatigue.
Athletes wanting to establish and train their ability to generate power routinely use these tests, such as hockey players, figure skaters, wheelchair athletes, track cyclists, and downhill skiers.
The U of A has developed a special protocol used for hockey players that precisely simulates a shift in hockey and is the current test used by the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL.
Testing lasts between 30-90 seconds (determined by sport)
What to bring: comfortable workout wear including runners and water bottle
What you will receive from this test:
- Peak Power in two ways, absolute (Watts) and relative (Watts/kg)
- Mean Power in two ways, absolute (Watts) and relative (Watts/kg)
- Fatigue Index, the % power drop off from peak
- Individualized comparison of results to elite level in that sport or activity, along with training program design such as strength, endurance and power.
Contact Us
Alex Game, MSc, CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist; High Performance Specialist
Director, SHAC